The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1887-06-15
NO.. 26.
KENTUCKY PIONEER LIFE.
INCIDENTS OF EARLY DAYS IN THE
DARK AND BLOODY GROUND"

DARK AND BLOODY GROUND"
Some Account of the Exciting Experiences
ofDanieI Boone and His Followers.
(From Harper's Magazine for June.)
The dangers which Boone and his
companions encountered in the fields
came to the very doors Of their cabins,
and constantly menaced their families.
Indians lurked singly or in parties to
seize a prisoner or take scalp whenever
an incautious white should give the op-
portunity. Frequent combats (and each
combat ended, as rule, in the death Of
one or both OF these engaged) had
habituated the men to danger. It was
Later that they felt the danger Of their
wives and children.
Late on Sunday afternoon in July,
1776, three young girls ventured from
the enclosure OF Boonesborouge to amuse
themselves with canoe upon the river
that flowed by the fort. Insensibly they
drifted with the lazy current, and before
they were aware of their danger we're
seized by five warriors. Their resist
ance was useless, though they welded
the paddles with desperation. Their
canoe was drawn ashore, and they were
hurried off in rapid retreat toward the
Shawnee town in Ohio. Their screams
were heard at the fort, and the cause
well guessed. Two of the girls were
Betsey and Frances, daughters of Col.
Richard Galloway, the other was Jemima,
daughter Of Boone. The fathers were
absent, but soon returned to hear the
evil news and arrange the pursuit. Cal
laway assembled a mounted party, and
was away through the woods to head off
the Indians, if possible, before they
might reach and cross the Ohio, or be-
fore the fatigue of their rapid march
should so overcome the poor girls as to
cause their captors to tomahawk them,
and so disencumber their fight.
Boone started directly on the trial
through the thickets and canebrakes,
His rule was never to ride if he could
possibly walk. AL his journeys and
NUTS, escapes and pursuits, were on
foot. His little party numbered eight,
and the anxiety OF fathers heart quick
ened its leader, and found ready re-
sponse in the breasts of three young men,
the lovers Of the girls.
Betsey Galloway, the Oldest of the
girls, marked the trail, as the Indians
hurried them along, by breaking twigs
and bending bushes, and when threaten
ed with the tomahaWk ii she persisted,
tore small bits from her dress and
dropped them to guide the pursuers.
; Where the ground was soft enough to
receive an impression, they would i'm
press footprint. The fight was in the
best Indian method; the Indiars march
ed some yards apart through the bushes
and cane, compelling their capti7es to
do the same. When creek was crossed
they waded In its water to a distant
point, where the march would be re-
sumed. BY all the caution and skill Of
their training the Indians endeayored 10
obscure the trail and perplex the pur-
suers.
The nightfal of the first day stopped
the pursuit of Boone before he had gone
far; but he had fixed the direction the
Indians were taking, and at early dawn
was following them. The chase WAS
continued with ell the speed that could
be made for thirty miles. Again dark
ness compelled halt, and again at crack
Of day on Tuesday the pursuit was re-
uewed. 1t was not long before light
film OF smoke that rose in the distance
showed where the Indians were cooking
breaskfast of buffalo meat. The pur-
suers cautiously approached, fearing lest
the Indians might STAY their captives and
escape. Col. John Floyd, who was one
CT the party (himseE afterwa1d killed by
Indians), thus described the attack and
the rescue in q letter written the next
Sunday to the lieutenant of Fincastle,
Col William Preston:
"Our study had been how to get the
prisoners without giving the Indians
time to murder them after they discov-
cred us. Four of US fired, and all Of Us
rushed on them; by which they were
prevented from carrying anything away
except one shot gun without ammunl-
ton. Colonel Boone and myself had
each pretty fair shot and they began to
move OF. l am well convinced l shot
one through the body. The one he shot
dropped hls gun: mine had none. The
place was covered with thick cane, and
peing SO much elated on recovering the
three poor little heart-broken girls, we
yvara ,,revnnte5 from nakinp anv FIRTH
er search. We sent the Indians OFT al
most naked, some without their mecca
sins, and none of them with SO much as
knife or tomahaWk. Alter the girls
came to themselves to speak, they told
us there were five Indians, four Shaw
anese and one Cherokee; they could
speak good English, and said they should
20 to the Shawanese towns. The war
club We got was like those l have seen
vi that nution, and several words of their
languages, which the girls retained, were
known to be ShawaEese.
Ihe return OF the rescued girls was
the occasion for great rejoicing. To
crown their satisfaction, the young lovers
lad proved their prowess, and under the
eye OF the greatest of all woodsmen had
SHOWN tler skill and courage. They
:4.ad fairly won the girls they loved. Two
%eeks later u general summons went
| throughout the little settlements to at
te;:d the Hrst wedding ever solemnized
oa kentucky soil. Samuel Henderson
;ad Betsy Galloway We're married Ii the
presence OF an approved company that
s.-.i i.br.lt,.tl the event with dancing and